Familiar themes: Golf adventures, Route 31, songbirds, Genesee Valley Chorus to sing in Wellsville August 15
Pictured are Charles van Heck and Michael (Mike) Garwood, and Wrambling Chuck Wiser at the famous Texas Hot
A weekly COLUMN by Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
As I begin this Mid to Late summer Wrambling I’m sitting here in the Sun-Bird Room as darkness sneaks its way into the day. There seems to be an annual flurry of activity as summer vacations draw to a close, schools get ready to restart, and “seasonal activities” change gears and head into fall.
The Genesee Valley Chorus (GVC) activities are no exception with one surprise event now on the agenda. Normally the next “seasons” performances don’t start up until rehearsals commence at the end of summer in September. I guess you would say that other late summer activities or organizations often look for a little musical participation to highlight, or at least enhance their summer scheduled activity.
That is going to be the case again this year, as GVC has been invited to participate in a 250th Year United States celebration on August 15th on the steps of the David A. Howe Library in Wellsville. For at least three charter members of GVC this will be nostalgic as we did a similar performance in our fledgling year 1976. The “charter members”, Doris MacFarquhar, Sue Williams and myself are honored and proud to have been a part of the ’76 event and are looking forward to being able to do so this year, our 50th year, now under the direction of Matthew Purks Morris. We will perform at 1:00 PM on the steps of the library. The event starts at Noon with the reading of the Declaration of Independence.
At the late afternoon conclusion of my traditional weekly shopping venture to Olean, I came back home to Scio via Cty. Rte 31. Progress looked good, but final work and paving still won’t happen for another couple of weeks or so. Replacing numerous culverts on a “country road” with many off-hill streams feeding into a “down-hill” main creek flow like Knights Creek can be a challenging task. The Allegany County highway department has done an admirable job of minimizing traffic disruption.
As I’ve mentioned previously herein, I might have done “sign placements” a little differently but then again there’s lots I don’t know about those things. I’d be happy to give my “2 cents worth” if they ever want that. I asked AJ Young if I could share an update on the County Rte. 31 progress as today had been noted as the expected completion date. I traveled the road on a return trip from Olean yesterday and it was late afternoon so the days efforts had completed and the road was opened for “over-night” travel. There are a few loose ends to “button up” and then the road will still have disruptions for a few days yet. I’m not sure when the paving project will happen but it will likely be soon as there are still some rough spots where the culvert replacements made uneven road patches and depressions.
The migratory birds southern wintering migration has commenced but feeder traffic is still hectic as the fledglings now flurry about being excited to be able to feed on their own. I think the male Rose Breasted Grosbeaks mostly have left to lead the way back south. There is/are still a couple of the older males here, but I think they wait and then guide the younger birds south when they are ready to migrate. Based on the activity on our feeders the population boost of them and our resident Cardinals as well has been very bountiful.
A few weeks ago, I shared a picture with me and my oldest Friendship Central School friends Bill Hamilton and Tom Talbett. This week I have the honor of being able to share a picture with two of my newest friends, Charles van Heck and Michael (Mike) Garwood. Charles had been a regular Wramblings Wreader and had reached out asking if I would have lunch with him and Mike. We met and had a fantastic time chatting and for the most part on my side of the table, just “listening.” When I was offered the lunch opportunity, I commented that I was a “writer and a listener” as I wasn’t always the most active speaker. The “listening” part served me well as Charles regaled us with his adventures as a Veterans Honor Flight participant member. I asked Charles to share some information on the Honor Flight as I was quite interested. When I receive what he provides I will share that with you all as well.
As usually happens in this area, when you are given someone’s name it matches up with an acquaintance with a similar name. I asked Mr. Garwood if he was related to Gerald Garwood that I used to work with at the Air Preheater Co.. He replied that they were related, but it’s 2 or 3 levels of relatives away.
This time of year in the area golfing world features several golfing tournaments. For the most part these tournaments feature 4 person teams in what they call a scramble. On every hole, all 4 players will play the ball from the tee, and then from where their “best previous shot” had ended up. I absolutely love this format, and it gives each of the 4 players an opportunity to share their particular talents. I am no longer a long ball hitter but usually can contribute with my talent of being able to “Chip” the ball close to the hole inviting a birdie or par opportunity. For the non-golfing readers “Chipping” is to hit a fairly short shot of just a few yards distance away from the hole (pin). The shot stroke is normally a short downward “stab” or smooth soft swing to have the ball in the air for a few yards then onto the putting surface (green) and near or if lucky, into the hole. As is standard for me I compensate for my lack of a long drive by occasionally “chipping the ball into the cup.” August and September are typically the time of year that these tournaments take place.
Picking back up on the Aviary activity in our back yard I have noticed an oddity of the birds arriving at the feeders and then departing from the feeders. When they leave the feeder they often, nearly always, go in a different direction than where they arrived from. I have often wondered why they use different routes. It’s purely conjecture on my part but perhaps they do so to mislead any “enemies” as to the location of their nest as they are most likely taking food back to the not yet fledged juveniles. When I use the term “enemies” I am referring to larger “attack birds” that will catch and devour the smaller species of bird. The primary hawk-like raptors that hunt and devour smaller birds belong to a group called accipiters (forest hawks) and certain small falcons.
The most prominent species include the Sharp-shinned Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk, the Northern Goshawk, and the Merlin.
Here are some of the Hawks that I have actually witnessed as they dine on their prey.
Key Species That Eat Small Birds
- Sharp-shinned Hawk: The smallest hawk in North America, this tiny raptor feeds almost exclusively on small songbirds and frequently visits backyard feeders.
- Northern Goshawk: A large, powerful forest hawk that aggressively hunts medium and smaller birds, including grouse and jays.
- Merlin: Though technically a small falcon rather than a true hawk, it relies heavily on an agile flight style to capture small songbirds in mid-air.
- Cooper’s Hawk: Shown here is a Medium-sized and crow-like bird. They specialize in catching medium-to-small birds like robins, doves, and jays. This is likely the most common species seen in our area.
A couple of years ago I shared a picture of a Cooper’s Hawk actively chowing down on its lunch. I also had a short video of it, but it was a little gross looking and probably would not have been well accepted if I shared it in public 😉
Today’s title regarding “Writers Wresting” is a lead into my last topic. Song writers, Poets and Columnists typically have an overly active mind that is always thinking and composing during times when they are not conversing. When I’m sleepless at night my mind is overly active, often composing in my head what I want to write about in a future Wrambling. I keep a notebook in my vehicle so that I can write down a topic, or phrase or thought for a column that is Wrambling around in my head. Hopefully it is not an audible Wrumbling. BTW, I usually pull off the road to write a note on my notepad. If it’s a one-word reminder I have been known to write it down while driving. I just retrieved a note from my truck showing what I had written while stopped at a stop light. I tried to copy a photo of it but it turned out to be 2 MB in size and I didn’t want to use up my allotted space with that. As I stopped behind a car at a traffic light, its back window “decal” had a note that said; “I’m not driving drunk I’m dodging potholes.” That gave me a good chuckle.
Having used that word “chuckle” always brings back fond thoughts of one of my Friendship Central School classmates Carole (Reed) Mohilewski. She always calls me “Chuckles.”
Well, my notepad of topics to write about still has 5 or 6 items not yet mentioned. I have used up enough space and your time of reading so I will quit while I’m ahead. I am very thankful for those of you who take the time to wread my Wramblings, and especially to those like Charles van Heck who do reach out to me. Charles has a “Blog” of his own and I’m not sure if it has a title but if you “Google Search” his name it will take you to his writings.
Thank you for reading and if you have any comments, cares or concerns please feel free to reach out to me at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com.
